Yamaha Adds Slim Networked AVR

Buena Park, Calif. –Yamaha will add its own product to the audio industry’s short list of slim A/V receivers (AVR) with the launch this month of the $649-suggested RX-S600 networked receiver.

The 5.1-channel AVR is only 4.4 inches tall compared with other Yamaha AVRs that are 6.75 inches tall. The receiver “can be placed just about anywhere due to its small size,” said Bob Goedken, GM of Yamaha’s A/V division.

For networking, the receiver is equipped with Apple AirPlay, DLNA 1.5, Pandora, Spotify Connect and vTuner Internet radio. It’s also equipped with three HDMI inputs and one HDMI output with 3D and 4K passthrough, audio return channel, and standby-through mode so that users can listen to cable set-top boxes and other HDMI video sources through their TV speakers while the receiver is off.

Also included are Mobile High-definition Link (MHL) HDMI input, two virtual-height channels, and Made for iPod/iPhone-iPad USB ports that accept Apple-device audio. The USB port also plays music from USB drives and MP3 players.

Other key features include five HDMI inputs, one HDMI output, and decoding of MP3, AAC, WMA, FLAC and WAV files. The receiver supports FLAC and WAV files up to 192kHz/24 bits. It also decodes Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digitasl Plus, DTS HD Master and DTS HD High Resolution surround-sound tracks.

The amp section is rated at 5×60 watts from 20Hz to 20kHz with 0.09 percent THD with two channels driven. The DACs on all channels are 192/24 Burr-Brown DACs. YPAO technology delivers automatic speaker setup and room-acoustics correction.

The receiver can be used with an optional $99-suggested YWA-10 Wi-Fi adapter and $69 YBA-11 Bluetooth adapter.

Separately, Yamaha said it would make available Spotify Connect on 2013 network AVRs and a preamp processor. Spotify Connect is a technology developed by Internet music service Spotify to enable consumers to switch instantly from streaming Spotify on a smartphone to streaming Spotify through a home audio product.

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